tvN’s presence in the 2025 drama ratings race has been unmistakable. Among all mini-series aired across channels this year, the highest-rated title came from tvN. The fusion historical romance 'Bon Appétit, Your Majesty' set a new benchmark, posting a nationwide average rating of 17.1%, peaking at 19.4%, and reaching as high as 20% in the Seoul metropolitan area (Nielsen Korea). It ranked No. 1 among all tvN dramas in average household ratings for 2025 and also topped the charts for the key 20–49 demographic across all broadcasters.
tvN’s momentum did not stop with a single hit. The medical human drama 'Resident Playbook' wrapped up its run after securing both strong ratings and buzz, earning recognition as one of tvN’s flagship titles in the first half of the year. Fantasy romance 'Head Over Heels' and youth drama 'Our Unwritten Seoul' also generated significant attention. In the second half of the year, highly anticipated titles such as 'Typhoon Family' and 'Law and the City' delivered solid results in both viewership and popularity. Notably, tvN achieved consistent success across a wide range of genres and tones.
tvN’s New Drama to Kick Off 2026
Against this backdrop, tvN’s upcoming weekend drama 'Undercover Miss Hong,' set to premiere in January 2026, has quickly emerged as the next major title to watch. The strong track record of its predecessors has naturally carried heightened expectations into this new release.
'Undercover Miss Hong' is a retro office comedy set in the late 1990s. The story follows Hong Geum Bo, an elite financial supervisory officer in her 30s who goes undercover as a 20-year-old entry-level employee to track suspicious financial transactions. Park Shin Hye takes on the lead role, navigating the sharp contrast between her authoritative life as a regulator and her disguised existence as a rookie employee—an extreme duality that drives the narrative.
The pairing of Park Shin Hye with tvN has also sparked curiosity among viewers. She is joined by Go Kyung Pyo, Ha Yoon Kyung, and Jo Han Gyeol, while director Park Seon Ho—known for 'Wok of Love,' 'Business Proposal,' and 'Suspicious Partner'—takes the helm. Blending romance, comedy, and office drama, the series aligns closely with the genres where tvN has recently found success.
Character teasers released on December 19 highlight Hong Geum Bo’s complete transformation—her name, age, and social status all rewritten. As she descends from a powerful inspector to the lowest-ranking newcomer in the organization, her fearless confrontation of systemic injustice becomes the engine of the story. The teasers, which succinctly convey the drama’s direction, have already generated enthusiastic responses.
Who Is Park Shin Hye’s Hong Geum Bo?
Hong Geum Bo was once the ace inspector of the Capital Markets Supervision Bureau. Under undisclosed circumstances, she undertakes a daring undercover mission, infiltrating a securities firm as a 20-year-old employee. The reason behind her dramatic transformation—from a charismatic, highly professional regulator to the sharp yet endearing rookie Hong Jang Mi—has fueled anticipation for her performance.
Defying conventional portrayals of women in the late-1990s era, Hong Geum Bo refuses to accept injustice and instead works to overturn the system itself. She bluntly tells colleagues who doubt her abilities, “Work is done with skill,” and does not hesitate to call out those who abuse their power. As she rewrites everything from her identity to entrenched structural flaws, viewers are eager to see how her undercover operation will unfold.
The lineup of the four main leads for Undercover Miss Hong has also been revealed.
With tvN’s recent streak of strong performances, industry watchers are keen to see whether 'Undercover Miss Hong' can continue the trend. Considering audience viewing patterns, tvN’s genre diversification strategy, and the stability of a weekend time slot, the drama has strong potential to attract viewers who opt for home viewing over theaters in January.
Set against the backdrop of Yeouido in the 1990s—a time when upheaval and romance coexisted—'Undercover Miss Hong' premieres on Saturday, January 17, 2026, at 9:10 PM on tvN.
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